From the magical mountains and valleys of Tibet, these Buddhist-themed folk tales for kids offer a captivating view into the lore and wisdom of Tibetan culture and tradition.

Buddhism and its profound effect on Tibet's people and culture is reflected in these stories, each of which is imbued with life lessons for all ages. Threaded through these tales are the teachings of the Buddha and the special quality and relationship that Tibetans have with the mountains, trees, rocks, rivers, and sky.

The collection features tales of renowned Tibetan Buddhist figures such as:

• Songsten Gampo, the king known as the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion, and how even a small creature like a mouse can have a big impact on the world
• Yeshe Tsogyal, the Mother of Tibet whose teachings have guided generations on the path of love and insight
• Gesar of Ling, the 12th-century super-human warrior king of Tibet, a shining inspiration for overcoming life's obstacles
• Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, the great teacher who brought the teachings of Buddhism to Tibet

The stunningly detailed and vibrant illustrations by Wen Hsu bring these stories magically to life--making them as vivid and evocative to us today as they have been for generations of Tibetans. Recounted with humor and cleverness, the stories feature animals and archers, spirits and deities, bodhisattvas and dakinis, lamas and rulers, heroes and heroines--and highlight the mystical power of the natural world.

Wisdom Stories of Tibet: Tales of Magic, Adventure, and Bravery; Laura Burges with Lama Chonam; Bala Kids; Hardcover; 144 pages; $19.95

Laura Burges (Ryuko Eitai) is a lay-entrusted Buddhist teacher in the Soto Zen tradition. She received monastic training at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and lectures, teaches classes, and leads retreats at San Francisco Zen Center and other practice centers in Northern California. Her book, Buddhist Stories for Kids won Gold in the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards in 2023. Her children's books have been translated into several different languages.

Lama Chonam, short for Choying Namgyal, was born in Golog, Tibet, where he lived the life of a nomad as a young boy. In his teens, he began his Buddhist studies under many great teachers, in particular the great Dzogchen Master Khenpo Munsel. In 1992, he was invited to the United States, where he has been living ever since. He is a cofounder of the Light of Berotsana Translation Group, within which he teaches and translates, and he resides at Tashi Choling Buddhist Center.

Wen Hsu (illustrator) is a Taiwanese-Costa Rican illustrator. She has a wide range of styles working with papercuts, ink, watercolor, textiles, and digital art. She has illustrated stories for children in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Korea, and China. Kuan Yin is her most recent book for Bala Kids.